Shoe and arch supporter therefor



wily H6? W35, c, H. DANIEL@ U SHOE AND ARCH SUPPORTER THEREFOR Filed May27, '1933 5 also the novel stiiener or arch supporterper Patented July16, 1935 UNrso STATES yifa/ffiiNr OFFICE 18 Claims.

My` present invention relates to boots and shoes, and more particularlyto boots `or shoes wherein is incorporated a metallic arch stiffener orsupporter, and the instant invention includes se as an article ofmanufacture. 1

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a bootor shoe whichwill' have incorporated therein an efficient longitudinalarch supporter.

A further feature of my invention resides in so constructing andassembling my `novel shoe and arch supporter that said shoe will have aself-locking arch therein, this valuable feature being created` enirelyby the novel details of construction of my novel arch supporter or shankstirfener.

An important result of this self-locking, arch is the fact that thestiffener, when. theweight of the wearer is placed thereon, will be,forced or pressed toward the longitudinal arch of vthe foot, instead ofbending or flexing away there-u from, and thus the wearerrof shoes inwhich my novel arch supporter is incorporated is Vassured of a constantand entirely automatici arch sup'- port.

, Another object of the invention resides inthe particular constructionof arch supporter utilized. The body of` this arch supporter maybe ofany `desired size, shape, design or style. That herein illustrated isofthe well-known cottage shank type, with the important exception ofthe* forward end thereof which is under the' ball of the foot. Thisforward end` of thesupporter is curved or spooned, longitudinally butnot laterally, theV extreme forward end of said-,spoonror tongue beingpreferably beveled on its under surface in such manner' as to leave asharp, .biting upper edge.

Because of the curve of therto'ngue, andthe inherent resilience of thematerial of which said supporter is constructed, this sharp edge will`be inV constant engagement with the under surface of the insole. Whenthe weight of the wearer or the pressurev of the foot, is exerted on theshoe,

this sharp edge will bite into the said under` surfaceof the insole,automatically locking the A further andimportant feature of mypresentinvention` resides in the provision of .wings,rat each side ofthe forwardly projecting tongue, and

but slightly spaced therefrom, said wings beingV normally .on a planeslightly above'the normal horizontal plane of the curved portion of saidtongue. Another Yimportant characteristic of these wings` is the factthat said wings aord a far greater bearing surface for the forward endof the supporter against the outsole than would be possible if thetonguealone were util-ized With-` out said wings. Furthermoratheconstruction of the forward end `of-my novel supporter, as will bereadily apparent to those skilled in this art, enables the said forwardend of this supporter to more readily conform to the shape of theoutsole and thus more efciently and satisfactorily carry out itsfunction of supporting the longitudinal arch of the foot when saidsupporter is automatically locked in position as above briefly -eX-plained. The above mentioned wings extend sufficiently far forward intheshoe to be located under the ball portion thereof, `at each side of thespooned tongue, and thus my novel supporter presents to the fullestextent, a complete support, not only for the longitudinal arch of thefoot, but also for the transverse `or metatarsal arch.

The benefits and advantages of my novel sup porter will be instantlyapparent to those skilled in the art, and since I believe that saidsupporter, as well as the shoe in which same is incorporated, are novel,I have claimed the same in the present application.

All of the above, and other objects and features of the ,presentinvention, details of construction, and advantages, will be hereinaftermore fully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawing, illustrating a-preferred embodiment of theinvention,

-Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a ladys pump, partiallyY in section, withmy-novel supporter in position';

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 4; Y

Fig'. 3 isafra'gmentary longitudinal sectional view, on .an-'enlargedscale, illustrating the' forward end oftheAV supporter, and itspositionin the shoe relative to the insole and outsole;

Fig. 4' is a top plan view of the; arch supporter;-

Fig. "5 is a` side elevation of said supporter;

Fig. 6 isa front elevation of saidfV supporter; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectionalview on the line L-T of Fig.` 1.

Referring now to the drawing, fora particular description of the4irivention`,-its` construction and assembly, ltd'esignates the' upper'materials of a shoe, assembled on an insole .2y inA the usual' manner. j

Before the ,outsole ,isafxed my novel arch supporter `3; is, applied tothe shoe, the rearward edge Iii.

end of this supporter having a pair of apertures 4 therethrough, throughwhich are driven tacks into the insole at the heel portion thereof, thisbeing the only operation necessary to attach this arch supporter to theshoe. This method of attaching the rear portion of my supporter to theshoe is optional, as the method of attaching constitutes no materialpart of the present invention. The shoe illustrated in the presentapplication is of the wellknown McKay type, and subsequent to the archsupporter attaching operation, the outsole 5 is laid, temporarilysecured to the insole, and then permanently, attached thereto by'through and through stitching, whereupon the heel 6 is attached. Theoutsole may be temporarily attached atthe forward end before ap,-`plication or incorporation of the arch supporter, if desired. Y

The arch supporter illustrated has a curved body portion constructedsimilar to the well known cottage shank supporter, but it will be ap- Ypreciated and understood that the body portion of my novel supportermaybe of any conventional design, shape, style or size, as the inventionof the present application is primarily directed to the forward endthereof, which will now be described.

The forward end of the supporter is spooned or curvedin a directionreverse to the curve of the body. .so that the general longitudinalcontour of the-central part of said. supporter is that of a reversecurve. The extreme forward end of the tongue 8 is preferably squared,the -under surface of this forward end being ohamf ered or beveled asillustrated at 9, leaving a sharp forward upper Located at eachside ofthe central tongue 8 is a wing I i, these wings extending forwardly withsaid tongue for a material portion ofits length, but as will be apparentfrom an inspection of Figs. 3 and 5, said wings are normally on a planeslightly above the normal horizontal plane of the tongue il` at thelowermost part of its curve. These wings il extend forwardly under theball of the foot, and constitute ample bearing for the supporter in theshoe, toprevent twisting, turning or other distortion thereof, and Valsoconstitute an additional support, notonly for the longitudinal arch ofthe foot by reason of the increased length thus added to thelongitudinal arch supporting portion of the device, but also for thetransverse or metatarsal arch by reason of their location under themetatarsal arch portion of the foot and the bearing and support thusafforded for said metatarsal arch, as clearly shown in Figs.

l, 5, 6 and 7. Furthermore, thesewings H enable the supporter toY morereadily conform itself to the shape of the outsole, particularly whenthe weight of the wearer is exerted thereon.

When positioned in the shoe, between the insole 2 and outsole 5, asclearly illustrated in Fig. 3,

the spoon end 8 brings the sharp edge I intoA Contact with the undersurface of the insole 2 at the ball of the foot. Thus when the weight ofthe wearer is placed in a shoe, this will cause said edge l0 to biteinto the under surface of the insole, locking the supporter in positionbetween the attaching means at the rear portion thereof and the point atwhich the edge l0 of the tongue 8 has bitten into the insole.

t The biting of the edge l@ into the insole 2 will never be sufficientto penetrate through the insole, and thus cannot possibly injure thefoot of the wearer. In prior shoes of this type, wherein the forward endof the shank stiffener was loose, and free to slide on action of thefoot during walking,

the shank stiffener would be forced or pressed away from the arch of thefoot, and thus would not have a constant arch supporting capacity.

In shoes where theforward end of the arch supporter has been fixed inposition, the expense of manufacturing Ysuch shoes has been increasedbecause of the additional operation or operations necessary to attachsaid forward end, and the attaching instrumentalities have frequentlypenetrated the insole, resulting in injury to the wearer, damage tostockings, and other disadvantages. My present novel self-locking archsupporterobviates and eliminates all of these prior difculties anddisadvantages.

By my present invention, eliminating separate attaching elements for theforward end of the arch supporter, I am enabled to more cheaply producea shoe having a metallic arch supporter incorporated therein, while atthev same time assuring the wearer of an automatically or selflockedarch, and constant arch support, and these advantages will be fullyunderstood and appreciated by those skilled in this art. t

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat indetail, it will be appreciatedthat the showing of a McKay shoe is forillustrative purposes only, and that I may vary the size, shape, style,type and design of my novel archV supporter or shank stiifener withinreasonably wide limitsV Without departing from `the spirit of theinvention, or that this shank ward end thereof, whereby, on pressure ofthe foot being applied in said shoe, said edge will bite into the undersurface of the insole, and automatically lock the supporter in position,and a forwardly projecting wing at each side of said tongue terminatingshort of the outer end thereof and being parallel therewith.

2. In a boot or shoe, an insolaan outsole, a`

metallic arch supporter positioned therebetween, saidsupporterbeingpermanently fixed to said shoe at its rear end only, theforward end of said supporter terminating at its central part in anupwardly curved tongue having an edge on the upper forward end thereof,whereby, on pressure of the foot being applied in said shoe, said edgewill bite into the under surface of the insole, and automatically lockthe supporter in position,

and a forwardly projecting wing at each side of said tongue and paralleltherewith.

3. In a boot or shoe, an insole, an outsole, a metallic arch supporterpositioned therebetween, said supporter being Vpermanently fixed to saidshoe at its rear end only, the forward end of said supporter terminatingin an upwardly curved tongue having an edge on the upper forward endVthereof, whereby, on pressure of the foot being applied in said shoe,said edge will bite into the under surface of the insole, andautomatically` lock the supporter in position, and a forwardlyprojecting wing at each side of said tongue, said wings being slightlyspaced with said tongue.

Vfi. InV a boot or shoe, an insole, an outsole. a'-

from and parallelA metallic arch supporter positioned therebetween, saidsupporter being permanently fixed to said shoe at its rear end only, theforward end of said supporter terminating in an upwardly curved tonguehaving an edge on the upper forward end thereof, whereby, on pressure ofthe fcotbeing applied in said shoe, said edge will bite into theundersurface of the insole and automatically lock the supporter inposition, and a forwardly projecting wing at each side of tongue andparallel therewith, said wings extending for a substantial part of thelength of said tongue and terminating short of the outer end thereof.

5. In a boot or shoe, an insole, an outsole, a metallic arch supporterpositioned therebetween, said supporter being permanently fixed to saidshoe at its rear end only, the forward end of said supporterterminatirlg` inr anupwardly curved tongue having an edge on the upperforward end thereof, whereby, on pressure of the foot being applied insaid shoe, said edge will bite into the under surface of the insole andautomatically lock the supporter in position, and a forwardly projectingwing at each side of said tongue, said wings being slightly spaced fromand parallel with said tongue and extending for a substantial part ofthe length of said tonguebut terminating short of the outer end thereof.

6. In a boot or shoe, an insole, an outsole, a metallic arch supporterpositioned therebetween, said supporter being permanently iied t-o saidshoe at its rear end only, the forward end of said supporter terminatingin an upwardly curved tongue located under the metatarsal arch andhaving an edge on the upper forward end thereof, whereby, on pressure ofthe foot being applied in said shoe, said edge will bite into the undersurface of the insole and automatically lock the supporter in position,and a forwardly projecting wing at each side of and parallel with saidtongue, said wings extending sufficiently forward in said shoe toconstitute additional supporting means for the metatarsal arch of thefoot but terminating short of the outer end of said tongue.

r1, In a boot or shoe, an insole, an outsole, a metallic arch supporterpositioned therebetween, said supporter being permanently fixed to saidshoe at its rear end only, the forward end of said supporter terminatingin an upwardly curved tongue having an edge on the upper forward endthereof, whereby, on pressure of the foot being applied in said shoe,said edge will bite intogthe under surface of the insole andautomatically lock the supporter imposition, and a forwardly projectingwing at each side of said tongue, said wings being slightly spaced fromsaid tongue and being normally above the normal horizontal plane of thecurved portion of said tongue.

8. In a boot or shoe, an insole, an outsole, a metallic arch supporterpositioned therebetween, said supporter being permanently nxed to saidshoe at its rear end only, the forward end of said supporter terminatingin an upwardly curved tongue having an edge on the upper forward endthereof, whereby, on pressure of the foot being applied in said shoe,said edge will bite into the under surface of the insole andautomatically lock the supporter in position, and' a forwardlyprojecting wing at each side of said tongue, said wings extending for asubstantial part of the length of said tongue and being normally abovethe normal horizontal plane of the curved portion of said tongue.

9. In a boot or shoe, an insole, an outsole, a metallic arch supporterpositioned therebetween, said` supporter being permanently fixed to saidshoe at its rear end only, the forward endof said supporter terminatingin an upwardly curved tongue having an edge on the upper forward endthereof, whereby, onV pressure of the foot being applied in said shoe,said edge will bite into the under surface of the insole andautomatically lock the supporter in position, and a forwardly projectingwing at each side of said tongue, said' wlngs'being slightly spaced fromsaid tongue and extending for a substantial part of the length of saidtongue and also being normally above the normall horizontal plane-of thecurved portion of said tongue.

1G. In aboot or shoe, an insole, an outsole, a metallic arch supporterpositioned therebetween, said supporter being permanently xed to saidshoe at its rear end only, the forward end of said supporter terminatingin an upwardly curved tongue having its forward end beveled on its underside, thus forming a sharp biting edge on the upper forward end thereof,whereby, on pressure of the foot being applied in said shoe, said edgewill bite into the under surface of the insole and automatically lockthe supporter in position, and a forwardly projecting wing at each sideof said tongue.

l1. In a boot or shoe, an insole, an outsole, a metallic arch supporterpositioned therebetween, said supporter being permanently fixed to saidshoe at its rear end only, the forward end of said supporter terminatingin an upwardly curved tongue having its forward end beveled on its underside, thus forming a sharp biting edge on the upper forward end thereof,whereby, on pressure of the foot being applied in said shoe, said edgewill bite into the under surface of the insole and automatically lockthe supporter in position, and a forwardly projecting wing at each sideof said tongue, said wings extending for a substantial part of thelength of said tongue.

12. A metallic arch supporter of the kind described, comprising a curvedbody portion, a forwardly projecting tongue bowed in a direction reverseto the curve of the body portion, and a forwardly projecting wing ateach side of said tongue, said wings being parallel with and terminatingshort ofthe outer end of said tongue.

13. A metallic arch supporter of the kind described, comprising a curvedbody portion, a forwardly projecting tongue curved in a directionreverse to the curve of the body portion, the said curved tongue at itsforward end being beveled on its under surface to provide a sharp upperedge, and a forwardly projecting wing at each side of said tongue.

14. A metallic arch supporter of the kind described, comprising a curvedbody portion, a forwardly projecting tongue bowed in a direction reverseto the curve of the body portion, and a forwardly projecting wing ateach side of said tongue, said wings being slightly spaced from saidtongue and being normally above the normal horizontal plane of thecurved portion of said tongue.

15. A metallic Varch supporter of the kind described, comprising acurved body portion, a forwardly projecting tongue curved in a directionreverse to the curve of the body portion, the said curved tongue at itsforward end being beveled on its under surface to provide a sharp upperi edge, and a forwardly projecting wing at each side of said tongue,said Wings extending for a .substantial Ypart of the length oi saidtongue.

16. A metallic arch supporter of the kind described, comprising a curvedbody portion, a forwardly projecting tongue curved in a directionreverse to the curve of the body portion, the said curved tongue at itsiorward end being beveled on its under surface to provide a sharp upperedge, and a forwardly projecting wing at each side of said tongue, saidwings being slightly spaced from tongue and being normally above thenormal horizontal plane of the curved portion of said tongue.

17. In a boot or shoe, an insole, an outsole, a metallic arch supporterpositioned therebetween, the forward end of said supporter terminatingin an upwardly curve-:lV tongue having an edge on the upper forward endthereof, whereby, on pressure of the foot being applied in said shoe,said edge will bite into the under surface of the insole andautomatically lock the supporter inp'osition, and a forwardly projectingWing at each side ci and parallel with said tongue terminating short ofthe outer end thereof.

i8. In a boot or shoe, an insole, an outsole, a metallic arch supporterpositioned therebetween, tile forward end of said supporter terminatingin a curved tongue located under the metatarsal arch and having an `edgeon the upper` forward end thereof, whereby, on pressurev of the footbeing applied in said shoe, said edge Will bite into the undersuriace oftherinsole and automatically lock the supporter in position, `and aforwardly projecting wing at each side of and parallel with said tongue,said wings extending suficientiy forward in said shoe to constituteadditional supporting means for the metatarsal arch of tl'ie'foot butterminatingv short of the outer end of said tongue.

'CLAUDE YH. DANniLs.A 20

